do i need wedding video?

The Immeasurable Value of Wedding Videography

The sun had set, casting the world into twilight. As I navigated the winding roads, a blur of tears made the journey feel endless. Every turn and curve felt like an hour. The weight of the message I carried made my heart heavy, unsure of how to break the news to my wife. Her mother, my beloved mother-in-law, had suddenly passed away. A call from her devastated father, imploring me to deliver this heart-wrenching message, left me speechless.

As we came together, enveloped in grief, a treasure trove of old photographs became our solace. We lost ourselves in the memories, smiling at the snapshots of family vacations, and pausing at her radiant wedding pictures. The youthful glow in those photos felt like it was taken just yesterday. But as we searched for recent memories, we were met with a void. The camera had grown shy of her in recent years, a consequence of the extra pounds and a touch of self-consciousness. The stark realization hit us: just four cherished photographs captured her bond with our 4-month-old son. But videos? Those were even rarer. Oh, how we longed to hear her soft coos and infectious laughter as she cradled our baby.

Amid this poignant reflection, a silver lining emerged. Our wedding video from four years ago featured some of the most intimate and authentic moments of her. Although they were priceless, the longing for more remained.

For those in Austin, Texas, the average professional wedding videographer costs around $3,000, while Chicago stands at about $4,000. While this might seem like a significant chunk of your wedding budget, consider this: so many couples later regret overlooking videography. Photos are beautiful, but videos? They have the power to unlock a floodgate of emotions, immersing you into moments you might have forgotten, making you feel as if you're reliving the day.

As a wedding videographer, let me whisk you through the magical world of capturing moments, and champion the cause of memories over dollars. Here's the truth:

"Cut the vague clutter to make room for the meaningful specifics."

You might grapple with the conundrum of desires vs. budget. But, allow me to be the voice of your "future self." Two decades from now, the amount spent today will pale in comparison to the richness of the memories you possess.

Your wedding video is more than just a fleeting Instagram sensation. It's a legacy. It's the warmth in your mother's voice, the tenderness of your great aunt's embrace, and the surprise slow dance with your partner. It's the timeless memory you'll share with your descendants.

Two years ago, when I bid farewell to my mother-in-law, the video clips from our wedding became our solace. They showcased her in her element, vibrant and joyous. Now, in hindsight, I would give anything, even forgo lavish decorations or a grand cake, for a few more of such moments.

Many weddings represent the last family reunion of sorts, the final dance with parents, or a parting glimpse of grandparents. Allocate your budget wisely to honor these irreplaceable memories. Hire a professional filmmaker who recognizes their worth.

Are you on the fence about wedding videography? Dive deeper into its value in my detailed blog: The price of wedding photography & videography.

Because videography shouldn't just be an afterthought. For many, including me and my couples, it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the venue and photography. If you're about to embark on this beautiful journey, reach out. Let's treasure these moments forever, together.

do i need a wedding videographer?

I was driving home tears streaming down my face. I didn’t know what to do, what to say, who to call. I texted an older gentleman from my church. “Please pray!” my mother in law had just passed away suddenly. It was 7pm and my father in law had called. He couldn’t bring himself to tell my wife over the phone. He asked me to tell her! I was an hour away from home. That was a long car ride…

When prepping for the funeral we looked back through all the old photos. Vacations, snapshots and then her Wedding photos. She was beautiful. When we were looking for more recent photos however we were shocked. There weren’t any. Not nearly as many as her younger years. She had gained a little weight and was camera shy. We soon realized that we only had 4 total photos of her with our new baby and he was 4 months old. We had no video… What we would have given to see her hold and cuddle her grandson. To hear her voice and laugh as she held him. She loved him so much.

Some of the ONLY videos we had of her were from our wedding 4 years prior. The videos we have are priceless, but we still wish we had more.

The average cost of a professional wedding videographer in the Austin Texas area is around $3,000 and in Chicago its about $4,000. That can be a real line item in a budget, but skipping on videography is one of the “biggest regrets” most couples have and for good reason. The sounds and visuals from video can bring back emotions and memories locked away you never even knew were their. The connection you get from video is very different than that of photo. In some ways its deeper, more personal, and more visceral.

As a wedding videographer hopefully I can help guide you through this topic a little and advocate for your memories over dollars. You are going to have to make sacrifices… You are going to cut the vague clutter to make room for the meaningful specifics, but in the end you will be glad you did.

“Cut the vague clutter to make room for the meaningful specifics.”

What you and every other couple will struggle with is something very personal. Wants Vs Budget. I’m going to advocate for your “future self”. The few thousand dollars you will spend now is literally not going to mean anything to you 20 years from now. You will be so glad you have those memories.

Wedding video is not just for an Instagram post, but it's something you can show to your children and grandchildren. You want something that takes you through the emotions of the day... You want the voice of your mother, the embrace of your great aunt, those moments of your parents dancing on the dance floor to show to your children, your slow dance with your guy that you never dreamed he would agree to... You want your memories.

I’m just gonna be real, some of the only things you’re gonna have from your wedding to remember your day, is the photography and videography. And there’s a huge difference between the two.

When I lost my mother-in-law two years ago, we were so grateful that we had video of her from our wedding. She was not one who likes to be on camera. But at our wedding she was dressed up nice and felt good about herself, and was in a bunch of photos and video. I can’t tell you how much money I would pay now for even a few more videos of her. Hearing her voice, and seeing her having a great time was more than priceless. I honestly think if it was down to having a cake, or centerpieces, or even cutting down the guest list, versus having a video I would recommend people cut whatever they need to cut to make sure they have professional wedding videographer capture their memories. When this is all over those are the only things are going to have left 20 years from now. For most people it’s their first and last family reunion, it's their last dance with their mom and dad, it's the last time they will see their great aunt and their grand parents. Taking the time to build a budget that respects those moments and memories is well worth the time and financial investment it takes to hire a professional filmmaker.

If you are looking for what you should be thinking about when hiring a wedding videographer check out my detailed blog about it. “The price of wedding photography & videography” https://www.filmandframe.com/mainblog/cost-of-wedding-photo-and-video

When it comes to videography it really shouldn’t be a difficult decision. For me and my couples it's not an afterthought, it's right up there at the top of the list with booking the venue and photographer.